Report: Chicago Bears Reconsider Old Michael Reese Hospital Site as New Stadium Location
Team Leadership Shifts Tone on 49-Acre Property
CHICAGO (WGN) — Already amid coaching chaos on offense, the Chicago Bears threw another wrench into the news Tuesday — reconsideration of the Michael Reese Hospital site as a possible location for a new stadium, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.
New Development on the Horizon
Per Justin Laurence’s reporting for Crain’s, team leadership is changing their tone on the 49-acre property, which they previously deemed unsuitable for construction of the Bears’ new home.
Financial Structure Unknown
Laurence wrote the financial structure for a Michael Reese campus is unknown at this time, but the Bears understand they need a larger private investment and may hope constructing a stadium on a long-vacant South Side development could garner them more political support, especially among Chicago politicians at the state capitol.
Community Reaction
“It could potentially be a jolt around economic development for the Bronzeville community,” Ald. Lamont Robinson (4th Ward) told WGN News Tuesday. “We need economic development. We need retail. We need affordable housing for working folks.”
A Topsy-Turvy Road to a New Stadium
The announcement is the latest in a series of topsy-turvy moves the franchise has made in hopes of getting construction of a new stadium off the ground, only for roadblocks to appear and stall development at several junctures.
Previous Proposals and Rejections
Team President and CEO Kevin Warren has been adamant about keeping the Bears in Chicago and building a new stadium along the lakefront, but as recently as September, Friends of the Parks announced a coalition to oppose the most recent stadium proposal where they and other allies expressed concerns over the burden it would place on city taxpayers.
Pritzker’s Rebuttal
Less than two months earlier at a press conference unrelated to the Bears’ stadium proposal, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said it was highly unlikely a deal between state lawmakers and the team on a tax-payer funded stadium would materialize in 2024.
Aurora’s Bid
Pritzker’s rebuke of using taxpayer money on a new sports venue came after the Mayor of Aurora and several other politicians tried to publicly court the Bears through an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, where they said, “our city’s vision and professional know-how make Aurora the natural choice for the Bears’ next era.”
What’s Next?
The Illinois General Assembly’s November veto session takes place across two weeks on Nov. 12-14 and Nov. 19-21, but as Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch put it back in June, the Bears stadium proposal in its current state would not pass a vote.
Conclusion
The Chicago Bears’ stadium saga continues to unfold, with the team’s latest pivot to the Michael Reese Hospital site leaving many questions unanswered. As the franchise navigates the complex landscape of stadium development, it remains to be seen whether this new proposal will gain traction or ultimately stall, like its predecessors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current status of the Bears’ stadium proposal?
A: The team is reconsidering the Michael Reese Hospital site as a potential location for a new stadium.
Q: What is the financial structure for the Michael Reese campus?
A: The financial structure is unknown at this time, but the Bears understand they need a larger private investment.
Q: Will the Bears’ new stadium proposal pass a vote in the Illinois General Assembly’s November veto session?
A: As Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch stated, the proposal in its current state would not pass a vote.
